Senate told: Respect interparliamentary courtesy
Thursday, August 18, 2011
NEGROS Occidental Representative Ignacio “Iggy” Arroyo seemed to have the support both of the majority and minority bloc in the House of Representatives but only in the case of being invited to attend a Senate hearing.
The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee on Wednesday sent an invite to Arroyo, former First Gentleman Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo’s brother-in-law, to attend its hearing on alleged anomalous sale of helicopters to the Philippine National Police (PNP).
This came after the lawmaker admitted that he was connected to the Arroyo-owned company back in 2003 that leased the helicopters from LionAir Inc. president Archibald Po.
Senator Teofisto Guingona III sent Arroyo the invitation saying national interest outweighed inter-parliamentary courtesy.
The congressman’s camp has acknowledged receiving the invitation. He will be unable to attend, however, as he is still in London to consult with doctors there.
Majority Leader Neptali “Boyet” Gonzales II, however, cautioned that the move of the Senate will “open the door” for the House of Representatives to also invite senators in House committee hearings.
“Interparliamentary courtesy is an ‘informal’ rule and not in the rules of any chamber. So theoretically, the Senate can compel Iggy to appear. However, the Senate if it so decides to compel should realize that it will open the door for House to also compel attendance of senators (in appropriate cases) in House inquiries,” he said in a text message.
Iloilo Representative Neil Tupas Jr., chairman of the House justice committee, said the Senate invite will be not compulsory.
Minority Leader Edcel Lagman echoed the sentiment of Gonzales and said while it is Iggy’s call to talk to the minority bloc, he assured that the minority party will be ready to extend all kinds of assistance within the limits of the law.
Lagman, together with Deputy Minority Leader Danilo Suarez, also said that Arroyo should face the proper charges in court and not in a Senate hearing.
“As far as I’m concerned, this is not a case for the legislature to investigate any person or group of persons who have evidence that a crime has been committed in relation to these helicopters. They should bring the necessary complaints to the prosecutorial and judicial agency of government. Why should we waste time?” Lagman remarked.
But for Senator Panfilo Lacson, the unprecedented move by the Senate committee to invite Arroyo is a challenge for him to prove under oath that he, and not his brother, leased helicopters later sold to the police as brand new.
“That’s why he was invited (to the next hearing). That’s the consensus of the Senate blue ribbon committee. It’s a challenge for him to prove what he said,” Lacson told reporters Wednesday.
Lacson said a witness already come forward to dispute Representative Arroyo’s statement.
The witness, whom Lacson did not identify, has submitted an affidavit and is expected to testify on Monday.
“Just wait for it,” Lacson said when pressed for details.
Bayan Muna Representatives Neri Colmenares and Teddy Casino, meanwhile, said that Iggy should not invoke interparliamentary courtesy as his involvement in the sale of helicopters, if true, has nothing to do about his work in Congress.
“Please, no more invoking his right to remain silent because he volunteered to come out to save his brother’s and GMA’s hides,” Casino said. (Kathrina Alvarez/Jonathan de Santos/Sunnex)
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